Mastercard Begins Live Operations
Mastercard announced on 7 May 2026 that it has completed the technical readiness needed to process international payment-card transactions inside Syria, marking the first such operation in more than 15 years. The rollout enables point-of-sale acceptance of Mastercard cards issued outside the country and connects local financial institutions to the company's global authorization network.
Central Bank Authorization
The Central Bank of Syria issued the formal decision permitting licensed banks and electronic-payment companies to work with global card networks on 4 May 2026. Governor Abdulqader Al-Hasriya said the step will give a strong boost to the national economy and would open new channels for foreign investment and remittances from Syrians living abroad.
QNB Leads the Rollout
Qatar National Bank Group has become the first bank to launch digital-payment services and international card acceptance in Syria under the new framework. Adel Ali Al Malki, a senior executive at the group, said the bank is proud to be the first bank in the world to support the acceptance of digital payments and international payment cards in the Syrian market.
Background to the Reconnection
The Central Bank of Syria signed a memorandum of understanding with Mastercard on 23 September 2025 to develop digital-payment infrastructure and expand financial inclusion. A separate roadmap agreement with Visa followed in December 2025, setting the stage for the May 2026 authorization that has now been put into operation.
What Card Reintegration Means
Adam Jones, Mastercard's regional president for the West Arab region, said the company is deploying its global expertise to build secure payment systems with the Central Bank. For Syrian merchants, the change opens a route to receive payments from international visitors and from cards issued abroad. For Syrian households, it gradually narrows the gap between the domestic banking system and cross-border money flows that had been blocked for years.